Topics 
Funding Funding Guide
Where can I get funding? This is the question that most groups ask at some time or another. The Gateway has put together a useful selection of links, signposts and guidance to help you find your way through the maze.
You could also take a look at our Funding Resources for funding guides and resources on a variety of topics and Funding Latest for up to date news and information on funding.
Where to start?
Well, as good a place as any are SCVO's Information Pages on Raising Money. These pages provide guidance on what kind of funds are out there and who is providing them (both well known and less well known) and how to access them as well as some information on activities that enable self-generation of funds (such as trading) and links to best practice in fundraising.
- The Directory of Scottish Grant Making Trusts enables you to search for trusts under geographical and subject headings. Contact SCVO on 0131 5563882.
- Subscribe to TFe and you will be sent a daily newsletter on the voluntary sector that often includes funding updates.
Where else can I look?
There are hundreds of sites out on the web with funding information. We’ve pulled together some of the best and most useful. However, if you have a favourite site please let us know.
- National Lottery Good Causes - Gives links to all the national lottery funds available.
- Scottish Government European Structural Funds Website - European funding is notoriously difficult to understand. Find out what funds are available to you by following the links to the five partnerships that deliver the funding in Scotland.
- European Commission website - allows you to search for European funding by topic or index.
- Leader+ is a European Union funded programme that aims to encourage and support rural communitites in taking an active role in local development.
- A Guide for the Voluntary Sector to Scottish Executive Funding – Comprehensive list of the Scottish Executive's direct grant schemes.
- Highland and Islands Enterprise – Links to the Community Energy Unit and the Scottish Land Fund. Also links to the various Local Enterprise Companies that also provide support and funding to communities.
- COSLA – Local authorities often provide funding. Find your council’s site here.
- Institute of Fundraising - Information includes codes of fundraising practice,activities and strategies and charities and the law. Pages from the Scottish group lists training and events.
- Inverness and Nairn Enterprise – INE’s Community Toolkit includes a searchable database of funding in the INE area that would also be relevant to other areas in Scotland.
- Angus4Community – Browse governement, lottery funds and trust funders plus local funding support for the Angus area.
- Perth and Kinross Grants Direct - Sources of funding in Perth and Kinross
- Buchan Community Toolbox - designed by the Buchan Development Partnership to give practical advice to a wide range of community groups in the form of easy to read, self-help information.
- Skye and Lochalsh Community Toolkit - Fundraising advice for community groups included plus advice on legal requirements, planning and good practice. Showcases successful local projects.
- Funding in Argyll and Bute - Lots of information on how to develop your project and find funding, including a monthly funding alert.
- Voluntary Action Lochaber Information Resource Service - Identifies funding sources and information. Sign up for an e-mail alert.
- Social Investment Scotland - Provision of loan finance to non profit distributing organisations
- Highland Opportunity Community Enterprise Loan Fund -Supports non profit distributing community-based enterprises in the Highlands
- The Charity Bank - For communities and organisations that commercial lenders can't or won't assist
- Triodos Bank - Professional, competitive financial services to charities across Europe
- Unity Trust Bank - A specialist bank for charities, voluntary organisations and social enterprises.
- Esmee Fairbairn Foundation - £3 million fund offering loans to the UK voluntary sector
- Venturesome - Charity Aid Foundation's loan and investment support to fill the gap between grants and bank loans
- Invertay Social Investment Fund - Loan funding for voluntary and community groups in Angus, Dundee, Perth and Kinross and North Fife
- Developing Strathclyde Ltd - Provides loan finance for social enterprises in Lanarkshire, Ayshire, Glasgow, Renfrewshire and Dunbartonshire.
- Contact your local Council Of Voluntary Service (CVS) who often provide funding advice and whose local knowledge is invaluable.
- Contact SCVO’s Rural Information Officer, Sandra Hogg, for free rural funding information including funderfinder searches of grant giving trusts.
- Post a question on the Discussion Forum and find out what other communities have done.
- Subscribe to our Rural Funding Newswire that brings you up to date with funding news.